May 31, 2010

It's Memorial Day in America. Yesterday afternoon as we drove home from town, we saw that flags were being hoisted in a local cemetery. I asked Rick to stop so that I could get some pictures, and we spent a while looking at gravestones and thinking of the brave men and women who have sacrificed through the years so that we might have freedom.

With that in mind, I have a card to share today that I made for a young man who has served in the military and is now training for his next stage in life. I'm thankful for him. I'm thankful for countless others like him who have given of themselves. I'm thankful for freedom.

May 30, 2010

Just a note: I have a pretty little vintage-looking pendant necklace and earrings posted here on the CLASSroom blog today. I used both Vintaj Brass and Vintage Groove pieces, together with Glass Glintz. All hardware pieces are linked in the article above, if you're interested. Thanks!

May 29, 2010

How about his and hers graduation cards tonight? I still have one and a half cards left to make, out of seven, but I'm getting there! I pulled out my Papertrey Ink Star Prints set and used it for the focal image and sentiment on front of both cards.

For the girl card I used some Cosmo Cricket DeLovely paper with Raspberry Fizz ink and cardstock. I used a Spellbinders border die for the small scalloped edge above and below the sentiment (Border Deckle and Scallop), and some Zva rhinestones for the flourish and straight lines (CRW-02CA-106 and CRW-03CA-107). I cut the flourish into three pieces to make it fit around my glittered star just right.

For the guy card (which my husband still has doubts about being guy-ish enough), I used some Papertrey Dotty Biscotti paper, along with Kraft, Vintage Cream, Aqua Mist, and Hawaiian Shores cardstock. The star is embossed with Filigree detail white embossing powder on kraft cardstock and attached with foam tape. I was hoping that the muted color, lack of ribbon, and knotted twine in the button would convince my husband that it really was a guy card, but he wasn't totally convinced. Finally we agreed that it was the money inside that really mattered more than the button. . . Sigh. . . Men!

I really enjoyed giving the two cards different "moods," and I'll probably try that again some time. Thanks for visiting!

P.S. The PaperCrafts Top Ten Blog Hop Post is right under this one if you haven't commented for a chance to win!

May 28, 2010

Welcome to a stop along the Card Creations Week Top Ten Blog Hop! This is a fun blog hop showcasing the top eleven product lines of the season and giving away products from each of these lines--more about that toward the end of the post! I've had an opportunity to look through the Card Creations Volume 8 issue and I loved it; it's chock full of great ideas and trendy cards, a fabulous resource for card makers.

I was lucky enough to score a package of October Afternoon's Thrift Shop line, one of the ones that I had on my "to buy" list right after CHA this past January. I have had so much fun with this line; it has bright colors, but it's still playfully vintage, a perfect combination, in my book! It comes in both 12" x 12" and 8" x 8" sizes and has numerous great little coordinating add-ons and accessories.

Here I've used a Wild Card as the focal image, adding a bit of color with Copic BG10, BG13, and YR21 markers. I used a the Thrift Shop Border Rub-Ons to add flowers and stitches up the sides of the wild card and attached self adhesive pearls to the centers of my rub-on flowers.

Patterned papers are Collector's Item and Still in Box. Cardstock colors are Papertrey's Vintage Cream, Aqua Mist, and Summer Sun. I used some tea-dyed 3/4" twill for the bow. The "Sweet memories" tag is a rub on from the Border Rub-Ons pack, cut with a Spellbinders Double Ended Tags Trio die and trimmed to length. The bottom bracket shape is cut with a Spellbinders Labels Eight die, and the yellow mat layer is cut with a Scalloped Rectangle die. Pearls are Zva, and buttons are Papertrey Ink Vintage Buttons. Stick pins are Maya Road Trinket Pins and Making Memories Wedding Pins.

Now, about that giveaway. . . By visiting the blogs below and leaving a comment, you have up to twelve chances to win the eleven Top Ten Collections featured on the Moxie Fab Blog. One lucky commenter from the blogs below will win the eleven collections featured in this blog hop--that's one huge jackpot of creative enabling! My question for you is this: what is your favorite new trend in card making? I'd love to hear your opinion! Comments will be closing at midnight, MDT on Sunday, May 30, and a winner will be chosen and posted on the Moxie Fab World Blog on Wednesday, June 1. The winner will need to contact Cath by e-mail to claim the prize, so be sure to check there to see if you are the big winner.

May 26, 2010

Is school out in your area yet? I had a cute little teacher-thank you card in a stack that hasn't been posted yet and thought I would share it today.

I chose a My Favorite Things Pure Innocence stamp as the focal image, Book in Hand. The tag is stamped with Papertrey's Mega Mixed Messages and cut with a Spellbinders Double Ended Tags die. I trimmed it to the right length and rounded the corners by hand.

For papers I chose the Cosmo Cricket Jack's World collection, Lessons, Animal Friends, and Big Sister. Cardstock background and mats are from Papertrey Ink's Terracotta cardstock, and ribbon is PTI's New Leaf grosgrain. Buttons are also from Papertrey Ink.

The Copic markers that I used are shown here, along with a couple of Spica Glitter pens. I added texture to the sweater by applying Copic Colorless blender to an absorbent woven cloth and touching the damp cloth to the colored sweater.

May 25, 2010

The 2010 JustRite Stampers Catalog and Idea Book is now shipping, including nine new Christmas sets and over thirty-five new products! If you are looking for ideas to use with your JustRite sets, there are over 125 samples in the idea book, which retails for $6.95 plus shipping.

One of the samples that I made for the new catalog is with the Breath of Spring set, shown below. I colored it with Copic markers, though I can't find my picture of markers in a row that I took when I made the card--sorry about that! I probably used R20 and R22, Y21 and Y23, and YG63. . . (I'm guessing.)

In other news, we're delighted to welcome Stephanie Kraft to the JustRite design team! If you would you like to see more samples from the new catalog, then check out the blogs listed below. Thanks for visiting.

May 23, 2010

How about another graduation card tonight? I used the same stamp set that I had used on a previous post (Papertrey Ink's For the Graduate set), but I went with a bright contemporary look on this one. Cardstock is Stamper's Select White, Hawaiian Shores, and Raspberry Fizz, and patterned papers are from Cosmo Cricket's new DeLovely line, Delicious and Delectable.

Four more graduation cards to make, but they may have to wait until later in this busy week. Have a lovely day!

P.S. I found out tonight that there have been four cancellations for the Grand Rapids Copic Certification Class on June 12. If you are in that area and are interested, you might be able to get in now. HTH!

May 21, 2010

Would you believe that I need SIX graduation cards this coming weekend? Yikes! I know what I'll be stamping for the duration! That's okay--I have a For the Graduate stamp set that will get a real workout.

I used to feel compelled to create graduation cards in school colors, but lately I've been more inclined to just make a card that the particular graduate will like, whatever color that ends up being. For this card I chose Papertrey's Sweet Blush cardstock and gave the background some texture with the Linen and Canvas Impression Plate. I really love the classic, understated look of that plate! In addition to the For the Graduate set, I also used the Fillable Frames 4 set and coordinating die for the frame around the sentiment.

The hat image is stamped in Versamagic Niagara Mist because I wanted a paler gray than Smoky Shadow. I used some silver thread from my stash (an old SU product) to create a tassel which I attached to the back side of the hat, and then used a glue dot to attach to the cardstock to hold it in a curve. Buttons are PTI Sweet Blush Vintage Buttons. Ink is Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, and Chamomile Distress Inking System. Card base in Vintage Cream.

That's the first on the graduation cards; I'll be back with more of them this week. Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome! Tonight, in addition to my card, I have a sweet little treat to share, compliments of AesaLina Compton and her PixiePetals Etsy Shop. Ironically, AesaLina contacted me the very day that I was trying to teach myself to crochet using Nichole's flower pattern. Unfortunately, my flowers were looking more like potholders than something you would want to stick on a card. . . (More on that story another day.)

The crocheted flowers are by AesaLina--not me. How I wish I could make delicate little pieces like that! (And don't tell me that I just need stronger reading glasses.) Of course, with that hand-sewn goodness under the buttons, I also needed some machine-stitching around the edges. I think stitching has become an entrenched habit for me. Somehow it seems as if my card isn't quite dressed properly without it.

Here's the scoop: one commenter will win a Sweet Sample Pixie Packet (shown here) with your choice of colors and styles in the packet. To enter, just leave a comment on this post. Let's see--why don't you share your favorite hobby besides papercrafting, or perhaps what hobby you most often mix with papercrafting? After 9:00pm CST on Friday, May 21, I'll pick a winner by Random.org, and AesaLina will mail you your prize.

May 17, 2010

Did I ever mention how excited I was to hear that Cosmo Cricket's Early Bird patterns were being made into a fabric line? Early Bird is one of my all-time favorites, and I was tickled pink to get a box a couple of weeks ago that included some fat quarters from the new fabric! (There is a card toward the bottom of my post if you are not a sewing aficionado.)

Although I'm not that fond of sewing (except on cards), I really wanted to make a tote bag from this cloth, so I went to the Moda Bake Shop site (a fabulous resource for any of you who like to sew) and looked for a simple tote with instructions. I found this Charming Handbag post that looked simple enough for even me. I tweaked it a bit, but I still followed AmandaJean's instructions for putting a bag together. The Early Bird fabric (shown in real life on this post) feels silky and fabulous to work with, and I'm already eagerly awaiting more--the aqua pattern with the red polka dots. (By the way, just in case anyone is wondering, it took me an entire day to do this--that's how slow I am at sewing. My mother could probably have done it in three hours or so, and to perfection. I'd starve if I had to make them for a living, but I certainly had fun making one. . . or two--we'll see.) Edited to add: I found an e-store that will be selling the fabric here, but you'd have to have them notify you when it's in stock.

I pieced 4-1/2" squares for the front. For the back of my bag I used the border print piece and just machine quilted on some of the lines between borders. I added a couple of pockets in the lining piece for cell phone and keys--two things that I can never dig for fast enough.

Of course, having coordinating paper AND a new Just for You stamp set, I had to make a little card to match my bag! (Sorry that I can't directly link to the new sets, but right now it is on the old home page that is linked, after you scroll down to May Stamps. I'll try to remember to update that link later.) Cosmo Cricket had recently done a product swap with Ella Publishing which resulted in my choosing an e-book from them. I chose Stretch Your Sketches, thinking that I could use scrapbook layout sketches as card sketches too. The Ella e-books are beautifully done, and I'm eying their Picture Perfect book next; I can use all of the photography help that I can get! In case you want to see what the e-books look like for free, there is a Super Sampler here--free for the uploading, and stuffed with ideas.

What do you think? I used a 12" x 12" page layout that had a title bar at the top and three 4" x 6" pictures across the center. I interpreted the pictures to be focal elements (button, EB chipboard, and Chartreuse grosgrain bow). My favorite part is the little banner/title bar. from Papertrey Ink's Daily Designs Sentiments: I chose the Stitched with Love sentiment and bent it into a curve. Then I pencil-sketched a banner, which I then cut out, erased the remaining pencil marks, and used a Copic T1 and o marker to create a little fold shadow. I used three Spellbinders dies for the shapes on front: Petite Scalloped Circle, Plain Circle, and Labels Five. The ribbon and the button are Papertrey's new Chartreuse.

This was such a fun little project that I've caught the sewing bug from it! (Knowing me, it won't last for long, but maybe for long enough to make another bag or two anyway.) Thanks for stopping by, and have a lovely day!

May 16, 2010

Good morning! Today I have a post here on the CLASSroom blog. This week's challenge was ATC's, Basic Grey papers, and CHF stamps. Since I don't generally make or collect ATC's, I thought I would make them up as card focal images and package them with card fronts for a great little gift.

My Art Journal Blog

FTC Disclosure Statement

In the spirit of full disclosure, I currently work as a freelance designer in some capacity for the following companies: Imagination International, Inc. (Copic Markers), My Favorite Things Stamps, and Power Poppy Stamps. While I am compensated by these companies, either monetarily or in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of the products that I use. I will not recommend something that I don't personally use and enjoy.